Before we jump head first into Fashion Week that’s just starting, I wanted to talk to you today about a huge crush I had this week…

A lot of you have asked me how I work on my photos and illustrations, and the reason I sometimes hesitate to answer is because I don’t really have any particular technique. I draw on my computer with a tablet, but sometimes I add (real) paint. Sometimes I get my inspiration from photos, and sometimes it’s just something out of my head. It doesn’t make a difference to me if I work digitally or directly on paper. The important thing is just to create an image I’m happy with.

The same goes for photos. Even if I take most of them with my 5D, I love my phone cameras, and I have a lot of other smaller cameras too. The important thing is to simply make sure I always have a camera with me, whatever type it is.
In short – no rules.

Look at this watercolor, isn’t it amazing? It was done automatically, right before my eyes, with Waterlogue. I have no idea which geniuses calculated the effects of watercolor with such precision, but I have to admit, as someone who has spent hours doing watercolors, I am shocked by how beautiful it is.

So, the watercolor above was simply generated from a photo I took, and I wrote the title on my iPad, using Sketches – an app I downloaded recently that isn’t too bad at all.

I know a lot of you will say that nothing can beat art made by hand, but this app is so good, it’s frankly unsettling – and I plan to use it in my future graphic explorations.

These days, anyone can create gorgeous images, and for those of you who ask me how to find the path to your creativity, I encourage you to try all of the tools available to you. It doesn’t matter what instruments you use, it’s what you do with them that counts!

Then let life decide who is an artist or not. Personally, I’ve never let myself be bothered by that word – it’s way too intimidating – I never would have created anything if I had been worried about that.

Big kisses to all of you, and I hope you have a weekend full of painting and creativity, whether it’s digital or not, real or dreamed!

I agree with LO. In the last couple of days Instagram has been flooded with “Waterlogued” pictures.
I think the watercolor effect is there, but you can’t trick the eye: you just know it’s not a real life watercolor*.
But, as you say, it’s not the medium that matters: so if this app inspires someone’s creativity, Great!
Its “fakitude” doesn’t bother me, though it has a “creepyness” to it: you see it’s fake but it has also an element of illusion, which is disturbing (in a good or in a bad way, it depends)…

*In your pic, the precision of the shadows and their razor-like sharpness does not mimic the blurred quality of a watercolor…. you can not get such precise contrast in the shapes boundaries IRL.

Beautiful watercolor! I need to try this app, seems amazing! I really love this post and your point of view and how you speak about your wonderful illustrations and creativity. I’ve always painted on paper or canvas but I’ve never tried the iPad apps until a few months ago. Just not caught my attention. However, now I use it to draw a lot and I think it’s great. I also downloaded recently the Sketches app and I love it!http://heelsandpeplum.wordpress.com/

Love your illustrations the most, but the watercolor created via Waterlogue is pretty cool too.. Any idea if the an Android version of the app is forthcoming ? I have Samsung gadgets instead of Apple ones..

gorgeous !
thank you garance for the inspiration…it looks so “human”……

I am trying to focus on just one outlet and that is writing my blog and not trying to be everywhere tweeting,instagraming,vining, etc but the watercolor app could be an interesting plus to have .

I am also focusing on taking better pix and writing better texts and not aggregating content from other blogs with copy and pastes or writing smart one liners on twitter, that is why I love your space so much

i just adore you!!! i paint with watercolor….my favorite….i love what you did with the shoes with the app…amazing what is out there these days. just formed an “art club” with a group of friends….similar to a “book club” but we discuss art, bring samples, do projects, visit museums….it is a blast…and i suggest anyone interested in art, food, wine and friends to start one. have a wonderful weekend everyone XOXOXOXO

Garance! Thanks for the info!!! I just read your blog and promptly bought the app on the spot!! Did a “watercolor” and now I’m late for my French for Travelers class!!! Got it for my iPad to take to Paris!!! Guess I’ll be taking photos and converting to watercolors after!!! What fun. I will be thanking you the whole vacation in May-June!!! Merci beaucoup. Yay!!!

Oh, I love this so much, Garance! It speaks directly to what I believe and practice in my creative life. Thank you for being so honest and heartfelt!! (And I totally agree. Waterlogue is amazing! Just discovered it this week as well).

Sorry Garance, I think this app is an awful , truly awful stuff – if one ever saw a David Downtown’s, Mat Gustafson’s or Cecilia Carlstedt’s to name but a few, watercolour no digital manipulation is able to replicate that look. Will be a yet another phased out, cringe-worthy, amateurish looking gimmick in a couple of months like HDR and many other were. I am surprised that such a trendsetter and genuinely talented artist like you jumped on this silly bandwagon. But best wishes nevertheless, otherwise I find your blog absolutely gorgeous! Sylwia

Garance, my favorite way to learn drawing is on the Procreate app. It’s the one you’ve been using too. It’s like discovering a DSLR camera for the first time – you can practice all you want and if you don’t like the result, just delete/erase/select+cut. It’s just so the opposite of intimidating, because if you fail, just delete and move on. Paper, unfortunately, keeps track of your mistakes. I think it’s great to draw on paper when you’ve practices the technique already. I think all artists should start with a tablet practice first. You can check out my drawings at http://www.whyzeejewelry.com

Oh my God I wish all people in industry was like you, you are so relaxed which for me that is what fashion is all about… You are a huge motivation for me and I read you every day or at least see your photos to remind myself that doing what i love can also be fun and as you say “is what you do with them that counts” … there are no rules it is a rule i live by ;) thanks and hope you continue inspiring so many people :*

When I popped on this page, I thought-who’s watercolor did she feature? It is so poorly scanned! So I am sorry to say as a watercolorist, I am not crazy about it. I also have this eery feeling young people will never learn how to draw. Drawing is such a foundation skill. But alas the world is changing, so I don’t want to sound stodgy. Now my question of-do you use photographs as poses may become more important as people can take someone else’s photos, use this app and then sell them? Oh dear….

Garance this image is lovely! I was going to ask you whether it might be available to purchase as one of your prints in the future? Now, I am off to download Waterlogue. Imagine how much time I could have saved had this App been available when I was studying Fine Art… alas

To me this image has kind of ‘Ikea spirit’ in it. You know those zen pictures of stones which are nice and give a nice familiar touch to the guest room of your friends house but you would never hang them on your own wall…
This picture too is beautiful but what would I do with it? It has got a slight ‘industrial’ touch to me. I prefer always ‘homemade’…

Lovely to hear you’re fond of Garance’s handwriting! Each post that contains her writing is written originally by hand per post, so unfortunately there is no current way to download it. Hope this helps and thank you for reading! x Natalie